EAST LANSING, Mich. – With high school behind them and college beginning soon, the new 2022-2023 Michigan FFA officers will be starting on a path toward their full-time careers, while helping others find theirs.

According to Mark Forbush, Michigan FFA State advisor, the state FFA convention had, “just over 1,900 registered, and well over 2,000 in attendance.” 

Elected were President Clara Milarch; Vice President Jenna Stanton; Secretary Amanda Johnson; Treasurer Mckenna Morton; Reporter Samara Dowding and Sentinel Peyton Kuhn

The following are some of the new 2022-2023 Michigan FFA officers:

Vice President Jenna Stanton was born and raised in the small lake town of Manitou Beach in south central Michigan between Lenawee and Hillsdale counties.

While she wasn’t raised on a farm directly, her grandparents own and operate a hog and crop operation in northwest Ohio, where she said she spent a lot of her time.

“My greatest memories growing up are riding in the tractors and combine with my grandpa and great-grandpa,” said the 2022 Jonesville High School graduate, who received her State FFA Degree at the Michigan FFA State Convention in March.

As the 2022-2023 Michigan FFA State vice president, she said, “I knew I had a place in FFA when I entered high school because I had a passion for agriculture, and an aspiration to lead.”

She said she has two major goals as a state officer this year: connect with as many members as possible, and challenge others’ negative opinions of FFA.

“With my first goal, I should let you know that I am a social butterfly, but there’s more to me than just the fact that I talk a lot,” she said. “I want to know what makes others tick; what goes into the person that they are.

“In my leadership position, I can reach almost 10,000 Michigan FFA members,” she said. “I don’t want to just meet these members; I want to connect with them. I want to be an ally for them in all ways. Many leaders will say that their main goal is to change the lives of others. However, I as a state officer know that the members are the ones who are changing my life.

“My second goal is to challenge others’ negative opinions of FFA,” she said. “Many believe that FFA is just for farm kids and people in rural areas. This is so far from the truth.

“Very few of my state officer teammates grew up on a production agriculture farm, yet here we are,” she added. “Not all of us are going into a career in agriculture. FFA has a place for anyone who is interested, no matter their background or future plans.”

Currently, Stanton is working with the National FFA in Washington, D.C., where she had the opportunity to meet with Michigan’s senators and representatives to work with them on the 2023 Farm Bill.

“I gave them insight on positive aspects of the farm bill, and what might need to be amended,” she said. “Other than that, I am preparing to compete in the marketing competition at the National FFA Convention this October in Indianapolis. My team and I are perfecting our marketing plan to take home the gold.”

She said FFA has helped prepare her for her future career on a large scale.

“I am majoring in agribusiness management at Michigan State University this fall,” she said. “I do not know what the future holds in my career, as I am interested in agribusiness, law, and agricultural-based legislation, but I do know that all of these options are accompanied by connections that I have made in FFA.

“For every FFA member that I have met across the U.S., I have met just as many professionals who have offered to assist me in finding my future career, even potential future internships,” she added.

As far as advice she has for those considering joining FFA, she said: “Do it.”

“When you do it, jump all in,” she said. “Become as involved as possible from the beginning. In your first year, pick one event or contest that you don’t want to do because it’s not your ‘thing,’ and make it your thing. There’s no growth in a comfort zone, and no comfort in a growth zone.”

As the new 2022-2023 Michigan FFA Region 1 vice president, Austin Smego was raised on a beef cattle farm in Cassopolis, Mich.

“My goal is to have fun this year and do the best that I can with everything I do,” said the 2022 Ross Beatty High School graduate, who obtained his Discovery, Greenhand, Chapter, and State Degrees. “I am fully embracing the notion of serving the members now. I cannot wait to meet all of the members.”

One project he’s working on right now is his Beef Production SAE (supervised agriculture experience).

“I have two cows that have produced multiple calves, as well as raising steers for the fair,” he said. “I have loved how comfortable FFA has made me into being the outgoing person I am. FFA has given me a voice and platform for my ambitions for my future. I love how much FFA has taught me about useful work-related skills that high school classes fail to cover.”

This fall, Smego will be attending Lansing Community College, but he said he plans to transfer to Western Michigan University for a bachelor’s degree in automotive engineering.

“FFA is a great organization that will give students a way to explore many fields of agriculture, as well as leadership,” he said. “FFA will give you multiple skills that you can use beyond your years of education and into the workforce. If you’re on the fence about FFA, I challenge you to be courageous and make that leap.”